Author
Topic: Ilex serrata, where to go from here (Read 3497 times)

I was posting in another ilex serrata thread about a "stump" that I picked up a couple of years ago. I've repotted it and have been trying to strengthen the plant and decide what to do going forward. Looking for some suggestions.

I'm attaching a series of pics from 2012 showing the plant in the dormant phase. The base is about 3" across and the height to the top of the stump is about 7-8".

At some point along the way this was a much taller specimen, but the top died back (this all happened before I acquired it). As can probably be seen, there is some growth from the upper part of the stump, but the strongest growth is a series of vertical "suckers" that have arisen from around the base.

I think ideally I'd like to develop this as a stout trunked upright that would ultimately be maybe 12" tall. That would mean removing the suckers and trying to concentrate growth/development from the upper part of the stump. If I go this route, I'm not sure how quickly to remove those suckers. I fear that there is so much strength in them that removing them all at once would set the tree way back, possibly result in dead roots or dead areas on the trunk, etc. So I've been thinking about layering them off gradually (and using the resulting plants in a group). Any thoughts on this? Or should I just lop them all off (or layer them all at once) and just go for it? Not guts no glory? Not sure how well this might bud back on the main part of the trunk...

The other approach I've considered is carving out the stump and keeping some of the suckers and developing them individually, kind of like a bunch of new trees growing up around a dead/decayed forest giant. I don't think that is my preferred approach.

I'm a sucker (ha-ha) for multi-trunk ilex serrata, with big ol bases. Yours seems to be headed in that direction.I'd be tempted to choose 2 suckers and spread them out and away from the trunk (more than the virt shows) and then work on developing some taper in the middle one.

BT #68 has a great article on developing an IS, from field stock somewhat similar to yours, to exhibition. I question it's the same tree throughout the progression, but the content is good.

I'm a sucker (ha-ha) for multi-trunk ilex serrata, with big ol bases. Yours seems to be headed in that direction.I'd be tempted to choose 2 suckers and spread them out and away from the trunk (more than the virt shows) and then work on developing some taper in the middle one.

BT #68 has a great article on developing an IS, from field stock somewhat similar to yours, to exhibition. I question it's the same tree throughout the progression, but the content is good.

Here are a few inspiration favs from Kokufu books...

Hmm, you know, for some reason I was only seeing this as either a single trunk or a clump (> 3 trunks). I hadn't really seen it as a twin trunk which is the option I really like (your last photo). Will definitely reevaluate my thinking once the leaves are off. Thanks!

It's kind of funky to see the tree throws branches in two separate clumps. Since it wanted that way, I would air layer the top and make it to two clumps forest. The bottom branches already thick enough to look like trees and bear the beautiful red fruits soon.